2 computers to 1 printer how?????

[bigal13]

hi

how do i connect 2 computers to one printer with usb 2 connections as cheap as posable

[Pezza]

Something like this maybe:

http://www.lindy.com/uk/productfolde...2902/index.php

or

http://www.dabs.com/uk/channels/hard...quicklinx=108J

[TiG]

Can't you network the printer or Share it out if the two computers are on a network?. That would be the more sensible solution, but failing that the switch boxes shown above would be an alternative.

TiG

[bigal13]

hi



hmm

so i need a switch box is that my only option??

[bigal13]

Originally posted by TiG
Can't you network the printer or Share it out if the two computers are on a network?. That would be the more sensible solution, but failing that the switch boxes shown above would be an alternative.

TiG

hi

my computers are both on a adsl router will this work and if so how do i set that up as i have not got any idea where to start


if this is possible could some one give me a step by step guide for beginners

[fondie]

yep, just plug the printer into one of the computers, and follow your operating systems instructions for setting it up as a shared printer on the network.

[TiG]

You've got network cards in each of the machines and the ADSL router is where these network cables plug in?.

If so add the printer to 1 machine, install following manual that came with the printer.

Then go into Start > settings > control panel and then printers.

And share the printer, then go to the other machine, go to add printers, search the network for the first machine with the printer installed and click add, you should then be able to print from both machines.

TiG

[chrisf6969]

on the computer that you have the computer hooked up to, go to Settings..... printers and faxes, then right click the printer and go to Sharing... then select to share it.

then on the computer that its not connected to go to add a printer... select network printer.. and browse to find it.. and it basically steps you through it....

Firewalls can keep you from seeing/connecting to the other computers on your network. You may need to disable them (at least during set up) and/or reconfigure them.

[Enverex]

Normal Windows printer sharing which the others have said is the easiest. Another way to do it is to buy a print server which lets you turn your printer into a network device so anything on your network can print to it.

NS

[bigal13]

hmm

it all sounded easy BUT its not working




on the main computer with the printer fitted i have enabled it to share and a hand appeared under the printer

on the second computer i have run through the add printer , network printer, it searched and found my other computer and then i selected printer but it does not work any ideas

[chrisf6969]

do you have different operating systems? (on the 2 computers)

If so you need to select where to find the drivers for the 2nd computer. If not it should be a breeze.

Remember disable firewalls. & restart computer #2 for drivers to take effect.

[directhex]

what's the printer? Epson & Cannon printers can be very easily shared on a network, HP printers don't share at all.

[Butuz]

Originally posted by bigal13
hmm

it all sounded easy BUT its not working




on the main computer with the printer fitted i have enabled it to share and a hand appeared under the printer

on the second computer i have run through the add printer , network printer, it searched and found my other computer and then i selected printer but it does not work any ideas

Sounds to me like your first computer is running Windows 2000 or XP and your second computer is running Windows 95/98/ME.

If the above is the case, you need to install windows95/98/ME compatible printer drivers onto your first computer so that the second computer can "download" the drivers off your first computer and thus successfuly install the printer.

This is a bit convolouted and it would be far easier for me to give accurate instructions if i knew the operating systems on your 2 pc's as well as the make and model of printer.

basically You do this by right clicking on your shared printer on computer 1, clicking properties, clicking on the sharing tab then towards the botom you shoud have an "additional drivers" button or menu. on Windows 2000 it is a button (i havent got windows XP at home cant check it), and if you click on the button you get a list of all operating systems with a tick next to what drivers you current have installed, the windows 95/98/me boxes will probably be unticked.

You need to tick this box, click ok and then it will either install the windows 95/98 drivers onto your computer automatically (probably need your winxp / 2k disk to be inserted) or it will prompt you for a path to the manufacturer drivers which you can either find on your printer driver CD under a /windows9x/ type folder, or you can download the from the internet and unzip with winzip to your desktop. Once this is done, and youve got Windows95/98 tickbox ticked, you can then try going onto computer number 2 and installing the printer as per TiG's instructions.

Hope this helps.

Butuz

[bigal13]

hi

its a old lexmark z31 due to be replaced with something else at xmas

[Butuz]

Originally posted by directhex
what's the printer? Epson & Cannon printers can be very easily shared on a network, HP printers don't share at all.

And thats nonsense as well ive got well over 60 HP printers both inkjet and laser on my network and many of them are shared in some fashion or another. Some HP laser's are shared to 65 pc's each.

Butuz

[BUFF]

Originally posted by directhex
what's the printer? Epson & Cannon printers can be very easily shared on a network, HP printers don't share at all.

Not true, my HP990Cxi is shared by 4 PC's on a network with no print server in sight.